Archive for the ‘Modern Fiction’ Category

« Older Entries
Comments Off on The Mandibles: A Family, 2029–2047 by Lionel Shriver

The Mandibles: A Family, 2029–2047 by Lionel Shriver


2019
12.22

Posted in 3 out of 10, Audiobook, Book Club Books, Book genre, Modern Fiction | Comments Off on The Mandibles: A Family, 2029–2047 by Lionel Shriver

Shriver was a massive score for me when she wrote ‘Kevin’ but with this futuristic novel I didn’t enjoy it. The world has moved on and America has a Mexican president, the first language is no longer English. The Mandibles are a multi generation family, none of them likeable. The bottom falls out of the dollar when the rest of the world has had enough of the arrogant super power that is America. Their fortune goes over night. Things fall apart. (ever read The Queen and I by Sue Townsend? a very funny satire on a similar vein). Shriver is obviously having a pop at her country, she is of course an Anglophile so is’t allowed. BookPub score 4.75 me 3/10

Score 3/10

Date read November 2019

What would your score for this book be? Please post your comments below.

Comments Off on Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller

Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller


2019
12.22

Posted in 8 out of 10, Book Club Books, Book genre, Modern Fiction, Reviews | Comments Off on Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller

I read this lovely atmospheric and absorbing English novel whilst sitting in the garden, in the sunshine, sometimes with a glass of white wine, perhaps that is the correct formula to read this novel. A dying woman’s recounts the summer 1969 in which she lived with a couple in a crumbling English country house. Love, obsession and a sinister creepiness. But what really happened??

Score 8.5/10

Date read August 2019

What would your score for this book be? Please post your comments below.

Comments Off on Lanny by Max Porter

Lanny by Max Porter


2019
12.22

Posted in 9 out of 10, Audiobook, Book Club Books, Book genre, Modern Fiction, Prize listed, Reviews | Comments Off on Lanny by Max Porter

Pay attention! I’ve given very few books such a high score of 9. We’ve read it in both book groups, BookPub (7/10) and Waterstones and the reactions have been so extreme, many say they couldn’t get into it, others thought it a fantastic novel. I’d recommend listening to it if you can. Don’t get hung up on the written text and the voice of the villages, you don’t need to understand it. Lanny is a young boy who may or may not have magical powers, when Dead Papa Toothwort returns to the sleepy English village things get a tad weird. Modern fiction at it’s finest.

Score 9/10

Date read July 2019

What would your score for this book be? Please post your comments below.

Comments Off on Convenience Store Woman by Sayata Murata

Convenience Store Woman by Sayata Murata


2019
12.22

Posted in 7 out of 10, Audiobook, Book Club Books, Book genre, First novels, Modern Fiction, Reviews | Comments Off on Convenience Store Woman by Sayata Murata

An international hit from Japanese author. Our BookPub read. Why I like Japanese authors and their writing is it’s different to English/American and this might me 1/ it’s translated 2/ only the best stuff reaches my attention. Our protagonist is not like other people, she doesn’t have ambition, doesn’t fit in, thinks differently. When she tries to fit in she looses her soul. A lovely book, do read it. Now I’m writing this review I’ve decided I like it more than I thought! our group scored 6.5

Score 7/10

Date read June 2019

What would your score for this book be? Please post your comments below.

« Older Entries